00 Passat - condensation problem

madds

Hi,

Can anyone help with this problem? I'd really appreciate all suggestions/comments.

My 00 Passat has a serious condensation problem. I first became aware of it in November 04 when I could hear the sound of water flowing between carpet and underside of car when going round corners/uphill. When I looked more closely I found the entire carpet area behind the front passenger seat was soaking wet - I had to sponge the water out - got 2 entire bucket loads but couldn't get it all out!!

This was also causing a lot of water to form on the inside front and back windows first thing in the morning or when the car hadn't being used for a couple of hours. On very cold mornings I came out to find that ice had formed on the inside of the windscreen!

Took it into a local garage and the guy there said that normally, the rain water should run off the windscreen, but it was being forced back into my car as the tray just below the windscreen where the water gathers was blocked with leaves/grit, etc. After clearing this out he said I should be sorted now.

I also have 4 buckets of salt positioned in the car in an attempt to dry it out but to no avail.

To avoid a long story I've been back to the mechanic on 3 occasions now explaining that the problem still isn't solved. We've just had our 2nd child and tbh the car is now becoming dangerous as the amount of condensation forming as I'm driving along with heat turned up its highest setting directed at the windscreen isn't funny.

There's only 44k on the clock and the car is driving well, so it would be a shame to get rid of it if this water problem could be solved.

Anyone come across anything like this before and what can be done to solve it? I bought the car in 03 off a "reputable" dealer, but don;t know if this problem was there when I bought the car and only became visible over time.

Thanks.

comanche

Perhaps a sill is blocked under that car to allow the water out.

Donie75

Hi,
I had the same problem with my 98 Passat. I unblocked the tray below the windscreen and it helped a bit but it didn't sort it fully. Then I found a thread on some web forum that said that I needed to replace the seal on the pollen filter and that sorted it.

I did a quick google search and found these links...
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef0feec
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t169040.html

This explains how to fix it...
http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212738&highlight=pollen+filter.

The central control or comfort unit is housed in a box under the passenger side floor so any leaks in this area can cause big problems so be sure to dry the area out well.
I sponged out the water, then put in load of kitchen paper to get the rest out. Then I left the car open for a day and the footwell heaters on a lot and that dried it out well.

madds

Cheers Donie75 (and comanche)...appreciate the feedback. It will be the weekend before I can look at this but will let you know how I get on.

Thanks again.

BostonB

I've seen problem with drains in the doors cause this aswell, especially if the plastic seal in the door is broken. Basically you have to hunt around looking for where the water is comming in. Would you need to pull out the seats and remove the carpet to dry it out fully?

Moanin

I remember on older VWs there was a sheet of plastic inside the inner panel of the doors and if this was torn or cut, water would leak into the inner floor.Dunno if this is still used?

paraicr

same thing happened my 00 golf. Does yours have a sunroof?
Fixed mine by simply unclogging the rubber drains which exit at the front of the front doors. They tend to clog up easy, just squeeze them and if a load of water comes out that could be ur problem. I couldn't believe it worked for me, exact same problem- litres of water in the back passenger footwell.

zt-OctaviaN

Perhaps a sill is blocked under that car to allow the water out.

What? its a car! you need to find out how the water getting in..
There are plug holes in cars sometimes under the passenger seat perhaps its allowing the water IN if has fallen out or pushed in from hitting a puddle hard? check!

You stated bad condensation.. no offence but if a piece of fruit or a chip from the local drive thru has slipped down anywhere inside the car this will cause condensation! also the water in the floor may have a knock on effect as the damp in turn will cause condensation?

phill106

if you post the same thread on passatworld.com you will get a good response, lots of people with similar issues who have fixed it there.

madds

Folks, just coming back to you on this. Got a new pollen filter fitted after reading some of the sites that Donie75 suggested below, and it seems to have fixed the problem. Still some condensation on the front and back windows, but this is to be expected as the carpets dry out.

Anyone have any experience of drying carpets out at this time of year? I have access to a dehumidifier which may help?

Cheers.

Donie75

Hey Madds, it's good to hear you got it sorted. Those VW specialist forums are great. When I was drying my car out I got a few rolls of kitchen paper and lifted the edges of the carpet around the door. Then I just mopped it out as best I could. I seemed pretty good within a week or two. If you have a dehumidifier just lift the carpet, mop out the heavy stuff, then close up the car with doors & windows closed and it will dry out in a day or two.

Cheers!

Donie

caesar

Donie75 wrote:

Those VW specialist forums are great.

Have to agree the peolpe are more than helpful on them too. My sister was driving her 01 golf around for a month with the same problem before i finally got around to checking it out on those sites, had the problem sorted shortly after that. No need to go and drill those holes in the back like my father had suggested